Ubuntu the key to social cohesion
03 March 2016
Race and gender relations, education, the economy, languages and culture were among some of the issues that came under sharp scrutiny during a seminar on nation building and social cohesion at the Lenasia Recreation Centre in the City of Johannesburg’s Region G on Wednesday March 2.
The ongoing countrywide discussions are spearheaded by the national Department of Arts and Culture, supported by its provincial counterparts and run by the National Institute of Community Development and Management.
Their aim is to get South Africans talking about what is holding back the country and come up with solutions to the challenges. Dozens of people, mostly women, took part in Wednesday’s conversations. Many participants agreed that the best way to deal with the lingering legacy of apartheid was to embrace ubuntu.
The City of Johannesburg was represented by Regional Director Mickey Padiachee.
Project Manager Christelle Adams said Wednesday’s session was the 12th out of 33 lined up for this year. Similar sessions have already been held in the Free State, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
“The responses have been amazing,” she said.
Adams said people were showing the keenness to move on from just talking about issues dividing South Africans to coming up with solutions. Facilitator Siphiwe Makhubu said people were still angry about the past, with some finding it very difficult to let go.
“There are communication barriers and people are not hearing each other. Education will go a long way. These dialogues help a lot. We’ve to strengthen relations,” Makhubu said.
Theresa Johnny, 80: “These dialogues are very important. It’s important to have these conversations and hopefully, after years of talking about reconciliation, we will get this right.
"We’ve to bring the youth along because, while we have the institutional memory, they have fresh ideas to take this forward.”
Nishkalan Pather agreed with Johnny, saying: “This was a very good session. It’s an excellent concept to get the dialogue going. But we need follow-ups and a plan of action going forward.”
Ntokazi Mazibuko, of Lenasia Extension 13, said her wish was for more respect. “Let’s hear the voices of those who have been marginalised for so long. Let our languages and cultures be respected. Sometimes it feels like some races still feel they are superior to others,” Mazibuko said.
Cyril Samuel said by accepting each other’s differences, South Africans would be able to build bridges. “Let’s embrace all races. SA belongs to all who live in it and our diversity is what makes us great. We need effective processes to address imbalances. We need to integrate more. That’s what ubuntu is all about. Solutions proposed at the seminar included involvement of all races, families, communities and the government getting in nation-building projects.
Education on a range of issues was singled out as the starting point.